Cultural Competency Framework & Practices
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Project Status: Completed
Endorsing a Framework and Preferred Practices for Measuring and Reporting Cultural Competency
Final Report: A Comprehensive Framework and Preferred Practices for Measuring and Reporting Cultural Competency
The Opportunity
For too long healthcare received by minority populations has been of poorer quality; even when factors such as access, health insurance, and income are taken into account. Unless these inequities are addressed and care becomes more patient centered, these disparities in health and healthcare will persist. One major contributor to healthcare disparities is a lack of culturally competent care.
Even as healthcare systems improve, without the provision of culturally appropriate services, medical errors, misunderstandings, and a lack of patient adherence may still increase because of differences in language or culture. Providing culturally appropriate services not only has the potential to reduce disparities and improve outcomes, but it also can create greater patient satisfaction and help to increase the efficiency of clinical and support staff.
Results
This National Quality Forum (NQF) report, A Comprehensive Framework and Preferred Practices for Measuring and Reporting Cultural Competency, presents a framework and 45 practices to guide healthcare systems in providing care that is culturally appropriate and patient centered. The comprehensive framework for measuring and reporting cultural competency covers issues such as communication, community engagement and workforce training. This report is intended to provide healthhcare systems with the tools they need to help reduce persistent disparities in healthcare and create higher-quality, and more patient-centered, care.
About the Project
This project was completed in February 2009.
Process
These outcomes have been endorsed by NQF as national voluntary consensus standards. They were developed through NQF's Consensus Development Process (CDP, version 1.8). This project involved the active participation of representatives from across the spectrum of healthcare stakeholders and was guided by a steering committee.
Funding
Support for this project has been provided by The California Endowment and The Commonwealth Fund.
Related NQF Work
National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Ambulatory Care-Measuring Healthcare Disparities, 2008
Improving Healthcare Quality for Minority Patients: Workshop Summary, 2002
Contact Information
For more information, contact Nicole Williams McElveen, MPH, at 202-783-1300 or nmcelveen@qualityforum.org
This NQF project endorsed a comprehensive national framework for evaluating cultural competency across all healthcare settings, as well as a set of preferred practices based on the framework.
The project Steering Committee, representing the full range of stakeholder perspectives, was formed following the process set forth in NQF's Consensus Development Process.
Steering Committee Roster
For additional information on the Steering Committee formation process, including specific information on conflicts of interest and required time commitment, please refer to the Call for Nominations documents.
Call for Nominations and Nomination Form (pdf)
NQF received more than 60 submissions for both frameworks and practices.
The Steering Committee met in person and by conference call numerous times from February 2008 through October 2008. The committee adopted a working framework in April, and followed-up with a review of submitted practices. They communicated with the necessary experts and evaluated the practices to determine those to recommend for endorsement. Following this review period, the recommended practices were made available for public and member comment.
A draft report with the framework and preferred practices was made available for vote from November 21 – December 22, 2008.
Draft Report
The CSAC recommended the Cultural Competency framework and 45 practices for endorsement.
The NQF Board of Directors ratified the framework and 45 practices for measuring and reporting culturally competent care.
The public had 30 days to appeal the decision to endorse the framework and practices for culturally competent care. No appeals were submitted.
